Summer at Lavender Bay: Lavender Bay #2 by Sarah Bennett

Sarah Bennett comes to the blog today with the second book in her Lavender Bay series, and you’ll love this little seaside town in Britain. Please read on for my review of

Summer at Lavender Bay

Eliza’s story is next, one of the three best friends, all christened Elizabeth but decided when meeting to grab names for themselves, she along with Beth and Libby are all now back in Lavender Bay, although it took Eliza some time to get there. Her marriage has fallen apart, and she’s not been happy for years, but it took Martin’s callous disregard of her wishes as he gaslighted her into “seeing” things his way that finally cracked things wide open, and the departures gate at the airport for a three year stint in Abu Dhabi is the line in the sand that she won’t cross. Returning home to Lavender Bay with her best friends, in her room above the family’s pub, Eliza is at loose ends and unsure of her next step, just knowing that she wants to be excited for her next move.

Jack Gilbert came to Lavender Bay as a child, his parents wishing for a ‘simpler life’ and they’ve built their lavender farm into a growing concern. But after his father’s death, and then his older brother being killed by a drunk driver, he’s now cocooned himself into a self-imposed prison of sorts, determined to make up for everything to Noah, his young nephew, and keep hurt and angst from the door. He’s prickly and anti-social, and perhaps too wrapped up in his own superhero complex to actually allow the natural ebb and flow of life’s challenges to approach without kicking out at them, but he’s got a heart of gold. When Eliza, with an idea to use her ‘crafty skills’ and her new idea for a “With Love from Lavender Bay” line of products (that her best friend Beth has already agreed to sell in her emporium) she’s popped up the hill to Gilbert’s farm, hoping to discuss a potential sale of lavender oil for use in candles and soaps. Of course, Jack is his usual grumpy bear self and Eliza, not being the most bold or brash person to start with, heads off.

Oh these two are adorable together, and as Eliza gains confidence in her own idea for a business, and things start to sell, she also starts to find her own footing for her own life, and the ability to demand a divorce from Martin (who arrives to guilt her back into his life) as she is quietly showing Jack that isolating himself, his mother and little Noah isn’t healthy or necessary, and that once you’ve been accepted into this little ‘family’ of people, you’re in. From taking over the help with the harvest to the moments with Noah, Eliza has wormed her way into Jack’s heart, despite his ability to turn every situation into worst case scenario and take instant offense at even offhanded comments. It will take not just Eliza, but the whole village to help bring Jack awareness of the potential and pleasure of ‘letting people in”, and with a visitor to town in Colin, now appearing to become more involved in the people and the town with his partnering with Sam in the proposed restaurant in the old skittles lanes under the pub, the possibility for more growth for both Jack and Eliza is strong, while we’ve still got more to look forward to in this village. A lovely read, heartfelt and sweet, that can be read out of order – it’s only going to make you want to meet the people and the town in the first.

When Eliza Barnes said ‘I do’ to her husband all those years ago, she thought that they’d be together forever. Instead, he’s flown to Abu Dhabi to start a new life, and she’s returning to the little seaside town of Lavender Bay.

It’s finally time to chase the dreams she’s put on hold for so long, whipping up luxury bath products and organic soaps using local ingredients. Of course, she didn’t expect to meet local farmer, Jack Gilbert, or for him to be quite so gorgeous!

So when her husband turns up, she knows she must decide between the man she knows everything about and the man who makes her heart race in ways she’d never imagined – before it’s too late…

A copy of this title was provided via Publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

About Sarah Bennett

Sarah Bennett has been reading for as long as she can remember. Raised in a family of bookworms, her love affair with books of all genres has culminated in the ultimate Happy Ever After – getting to write her own stories to share with others.

Born and raised in a military family, she is happily married to her own Officer (who is sometimes even A Gentleman). Home is wherever he lays his hat, and life has taught them both that the best family is the one you create from friends as well as relatives.

When not reading or writing, Sarah is a devotee of afternoon naps and sailing the high seas, but only on vessels large enough to accommodate a casino and a choice of restaurants.